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Subject: Subs in anti-aircraft/anti-missile role
alexd    7/21/2009 1:50:08 AM
I was just thinking about this - what if we make the SM-3 sub launchable and load a couple boomers with a few dozen of them to protect our CBGs in hotzones. Stick them between our carriers and coastlines where cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and aircraft will be coming from. This would be the ultimate point defense. It's too bad the sea shadow never went into production
 
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WarNerd       7/21/2009 6:42:12 AM
For openers, radar and radios does not work underwater, so you will have to have a surface vessel fairly close to the submarine to detect and track the targets, signal the submarine to launch using an acoustic system, and direct the missiles to the targets, which pretty much eliminates all the potential advantages.
 
The submarine would have to be operating continuously at a fairly shallow depth (~50 ft) to allow for a rapid launch, which will make them fairly easy to detect.  Once detected it should be fairly easy to skirt their missile envelope.  If they are to stay between the carriers and the coastline are probably both restricted to a limited area and in fairly shallow water as well making them easy (well, easier) targets for conventional submarines.
 
Lastly, this would not be a point defense system, but a "missile trap" where you place your launch vessel on a probable axis of attack and try to avoid detection until the aircraft are to close to evade.  It does not provide any significant advantage vs. cruise missiles, and is actually at a disadvantage vs. ballistic missiles (which descend at high angles).
 
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